Tag: Participating Countries

The Informal Meeting on the Initial Preparation of the Draft Medium Term Plan (2026-2030) for the EANET

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

 

19 June 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

The Informal Meeting on the Initial Preparation of the Draft Medium Term Plan (2026-2030) for the EANET was held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 29, 2024, as a side event to the EANET Regional Workshop in 2024. The session brought together around 30 representatives from the 13 Participating Countries, UNEP, the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), and observers, to discuss the future direction of EANET.

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Opening Remarks

Dr. Le Ngoc Cau, Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN), welcomed participants. He emphasized the importance of reflecting on the current Medium Term Plan (MTP) and gathering inputs for the upcoming 2026-2030 plan, the need for input on priorities such as resource mobilization and climate change impacts on air quality. Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action at the United Nations Environment Programme, Asia Pacific Regional Office highlighted the importance of regional cooperation on air pollution and stressed enhancing the science-policy interface and improving capacity building efforts. Prof. Meng Fan, Deputy Director General at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, highlighted potential modifications in EANET’s MTP and objectives, potential future expansions including nitrogen management, climate change, VOC and ozone monitoring, and the importance of new technologies and aligning activities with policy objectives.

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Participants at the Informal Meeting on the Initial Preparation of the Draft Medium Term Plan (2026-2030) for the EANET 

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Participating Countries’ Interventions Highlights

Representatives from the EANET Participating Countries shared a wide range of suggestions and insights for the next Medium Term Plan.

Among these suggestions, participants emphasized the need to improve the evaluation of air quality data to better inform policy decisions. There was a call for strengthening the coordination between various stakeholders, including government agencies and research institutions. Improving the digital infrastructure to support more effective data collection and analysis was also suggested.

Many countries stressed the importance of ongoing capacity building initiatives to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals involved in air quality monitoring and management, in particular targeting lower income countries. Suggestions included developing more training programs and workshops including at the national and local levels. Additionally, the need for upgrading to new and more effective technologies for monitoring and data analysis was emphasized.

Several representatives pointed out the possibility to integrate climate change considerations into EANET’s activities. This could include assessing the impact of climate change on air quality and acid deposition patterns, while ensuring such  activities align with the Instrument and Annex for the EANET.

Increasing public awareness and mobilizing more resources was seen as vital. This includes campaigns to encourage participation in air quality improvement efforts and enhancing communication within national governments and between countries to promote EANET’s initiatives, while also developing strategies to mobilize more resources to support EANET’s activities in the future, through its Project Fund, among others.

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Ways Forward

The meeting set the stage for the development of a robust MTP for 2026-2030, focusing on understanding the Participating Countries’ needs and priorities, and enhancing EANET’s capacity to address air pollution and its impacts in Asia. Discussions on the preparation of the MTP for the EANET for 2026-2030 will continue during the Working Group meeting in 2024 (WG2024) to be held on 20 and 21 August 2024, and in EANET meetings next year and submission for approval of Participating Countries in November 2025.

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Read the Report of the Meeting (available soon) and discover the meeting’s pictures on Flickr.

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Photo credits: featured photo by Markus Winkler via Unsplash (2022), other photos: all rights reserved to the EANET.

Navigating Progress and Future Initiatives: Highlights from the EANET WG2023 Meeting

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

30 August 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Working Group Meeting in 2023 (WG2023) on the EANET was held online on 22 and 23 August 2023. Over 50 representatives from the 13 EANET countries, the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET, participated in the meeting to discuss past activities, proposed projects for 2024, and important administrative matters.

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Activities in 2022 and 2023: Collaborative Efforts for Better Air Quality in East and Southeast Asia

The completion of EANET projects in 2022 and ongoing activities in 2023 were presented during the WG2023 meeting. The Secretariat underscored its commitment to Core Activities from 2022 to July 2023. These included organizing the EANET major annual meetings, leading partnership and communication activities, and awareness sessions, such as the EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in Bangkok and National Awareness Workshops in Lao PDR and in the Philippines.

The Network Center highlighted activities spanning 2022 and 2023, including continued acid deposition and air quality monitoring, QA-QC and capacity building activities, and also Individual Training, the Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop, and the MICS-Asia Workshop. Notably, 2022 Projects were successfully completed, and eight Project Activities were launched in 2023. Among the 2023 projects was the VOC Advisory Group Meeting in Manila, a component of the broader Feasibility for Promoting VOCs’ Related Capacity Building in the EANET project.

Screenshot of some of the WG2023 participants

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EANET Medium Term Plan Mid-Term Review’s Inception

The Mid-Term Review of the EANET Medium Term Plan (MTP) for 2021-2025 was introduced during the WG2023. The Secretariat and Evaluator leading the Review presented the Inception Report for the Mid-Term Review of the MTP. Participating Countries engaged in discussions, sharing their perspectives and suggestions on the Plan’s review.

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Draft EANET Project Plans for 2024

EANET’s Project Plans for 2024, submitted to the EANET Project Fund, came into focus during WG2023. The Network Center and Secretariat jointly introduced 12 EANET Project Plans for the upcoming year, ranging from continuing initiatives to new proposals. These projects included diverse subjects such as atmospheric deposition effects on ecosystems, VOC-related capacity building, air quality monitoring network development, and more. Participating Countries discussed potential overlaps, funding optimization, and suggestions to strengthen project proposals. Encouragement for external partnerships was highlighted.

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Modifications to EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline and Administrative and Financial Management Guideline

WG2023 included discussions on modifications to the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline, and on revising the Guidelines on Administrative and Financial Management for the Secretariat and Network Center. The Secretariat presented the current Guidelines against proposed changes submitted by Participating Countries at the Online Meeting on the Revision of the Guidelines. Participating Countries engaged in extensive discussions to refine definitions and procedures.

After the WG2023, the Secretariat and Network Center will prepare a new draft of both Guidelines, integrating proposed changes from discussions, for further review by Participating Countries’ National Focal Points, and including review from UNEP and ACAP, hosts of the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET.

The revised Guidelines, along with the EANET Project Proposal, and the Mid-Term Review of the EANET MTP, will be further discussed at the Twenty-Third Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC23) online Meeting to be held in October 2023, and during the 25th Intergovernmental Meeting (IG25) on the EANET in November 2023, in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

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Find out more about EANET’s Project Fund and Project Activities.

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Photo credits: Photo of a Common Indian Crow in Krabi, Thailand (2020) by Erik Karits on Unsplash; all other photos, all rights reserved to EANET.

The Twenty-fourth Senior Technical Managers’ Meeting on the EANET

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

5 September 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Twenty-fourth Senior Technical Managers’ Meeting (STM24) on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) took place in Niigata, Japan and online, on 29 and 30 August 2023. The Meeting gathered over 40 senior technical officials from the 13 EANET Participating Countries to discuss the status of the Network’s monitoring activities.

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EANET Monitoring Activities in 2022

Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, the Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), delivered the Opening Remarks, followed by Welcome Remarks by Mr. Bert Fabian, the Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET.

After presenting the progress of EANET activities in 2022 since STM23, the Network Center for the EANET (NC) shared the results of various reports on acid deposition and related substances monitoring activities. STM24 participants were invited to discuss and share knowledge and experience to collectively review these draft publications.

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Some Participants of the STM24 in Niigata, Japan

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Overview of the Preliminary Draft Data Report 2022 and Evaluation of the Results of the Inter-laboratory Comparison (ILC) Projects 2022

The NC presented the Preliminary Draft Data Report 2022. This report focuses on wet deposition, dry deposition (air concentration), soil and vegetation, inland aquatic environment, and catchment-scale monitoring. It includes a summary of the monitoring data in 2022 and related information submitted by the Participating Countries.

The NC also introduced the preliminary draft Report on the Inter-laboratory Comparison Projects in 2022 for wet deposition, dry deposition (filter pack method), soil, and inland aquatic environment.

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Consideration of the National Monitoring Plans (NMPs), Current Monitoring Activities for the EANET, and Overall Air Concentration Monitoring Status of the Participating Countries

In line with previous STM meetings’ process, representatives of the Participating Countries presented their National Monitoring Plans (NMPs) and current EANET activities, including monitoring capacities, technical challenges, and future plans, while focusing on the general improvement of the activities of the EANET.

Dr. Meng Fan, Deputy Director General, ACAP, delivered the Closing Remarks. He expressed his great appreciation for the improvement of the data quality due to the efforts of the Participating Countries and hoped that the EANET monitoring, research, and capacity-building activities would continue to be strengthened through the expansion of the scope of the EANET.

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The Report of the STM24 will soon be available on the Meeting Reports page. View the STM24 photos on Flickr.

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Find out more, and access EANET data on the Monitoring System page.

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Photo credits: cover photo of Japanese rice farm by S. Tsuchiya (2022), other images, all rights reserved to EANET.

The EANET Online Meeting on the Revision of Guidelines in 2023

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

EANET Online Meeting on the Revision of Guidelines in 2023 (OM2023)

17 May 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET Online Meeting on the Revision of Guidelines in 2023 (OM2023) was held virtually on 10 May 2023. National Focal Points representing the EANET Participating Countries discussed revisions of important administrative documents to reflect the recent expansion of the scope of the EANET to wider air quality issues and the establishment of the EANET Project Fund mechanism.

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The EANET Online Meeting on the Revision of Guidelines in 2023

The Session was led by the same bureau of officers as for the Twenty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG24) on the EANET in 2022.

Co-chaired by the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, the session started with Introductory Remarks from Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET.

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Screenshot of some of the OM2023 participants

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Around 65 participants, members from the EANET Participating Countries, the Network Center and Secretariat for the EANET, joined the OM2023 meeting to agree on sections to be revised in the Guidelines on the Administrative and Financial Management for the Secretariat and the Network Center, and to the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline.

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Strategizing the Implementation of New Air Quality Management Activities

In 2021, the Twenty-third Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (IG23) decided to expand the EANET’s scope to cover wider air pollution issues with the adoption of the Annex to the EANET Instrument. At the same time, the EANET Project Fund was established to encourage collaboration outside of the EANET network and mobilize more resources.

With these changes, EANET is developing new activities in 2023 and 2024, in collaboration with partners in its region and beyond. In early 2023 for instance, the EANET launched its first Project Activity on technical assistance related to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) monitoring.

During the OM2023 meeting, the Participating Countries had the opportunity to share their views on how to best reflect the changes related to the expanded scope and the Project Fund mechanism in key administrative documents. Discussions will continue at the Working Group Meeting (WG2023) of EANET in 2023 which will be organized online from 22-23 August 2023.

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Read the Meeting report here.

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Photos credits: Trees by Alberto Restifo on Unsplash, 2015; all other pictures: all rights reserved to EANET.

The Twenty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

28 November 2022 – Manila, Philippines

The Twenty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (IG24) took place from 24 to 25 November 2022, in a hybrid mode, in Manila, Philippines. It gathered over 70 representatives from the EANET Participating Countries, the Secretariat and Network Center for the EANET, and observers from the academia and INGO, to make important decisions on the implementation of the EANET’s expansion of scope and new Project Fund, among other topics.

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The Twenty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the EANET

Hosted and Chaired by the Philippines, the IG24 started with the Welcome Remarks by the Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines, Mr. Juan Miguel Cuna, followed by Opening Remarks by Dr. Isabelle Louis, Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNEP, and by Dr. Hatakeyama, Director General, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP). Remarks focused on the longtime active collaboration of the Philippines as an EANET Participating Country, on the importance of the expansion of the scope of the EANET, and the establishment of the EANET Project Fund, with the ambition for the Network to contribute the collective efforts to lead both science and policy actions to improve air quality in the region. The IG24 Session Bureau was Vice-Chaired by Japan and by the Republic of Korea, and Cambodia as Rapporteur. UNEP’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Philippines and award-winning actress, singer, host, and environmental advocate Antoinette Taus also joined the dinner hosted by the Government of the Philippines.

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Extended Cooperation to Fight Acid Deposition and Air Pollution

Among the first agenda items, an update was provided on the approval status of the Supplementary Document (Annex) to the Instrument for Strengthening the EANET among the Participating Countries, with most of the countries having already completed this process. The Philippines reported this completion during the IG24 meeting itself, while Thailand completed it on 22 November as reported by the Prime Minister’s office in the Thai national daily newspaper Matichon. Through this Annex, Participating Countries agreed to work on an expanded list of air pollutants beyond acid deposition, including among others, Particulate matter and Volatile Organic Compounds.

From left to right: Participants during the hybrid IG24 meeting in Manila, Philippines, and Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET, showing the Annex to the Instrument signed by the Philippines at the meeting.

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Nearly US$500,000 allocated to Projects supported by the EANET Project Fund
List of Projects Plans approved by the IG24 for 2023

Alongside other important topics, the Session discussed and approved the first batch of “EANET Project Plans” funded through the EANET Project Fund, a new financial mechanism allowing collaboration with implementation partners and co-financing from outside the EANET Network.

The Estimated Income for Project Activities in 2023 is US$489,700, including funding from EANET, additional financial support from Japan (MOEJ) from the Republic of Korea (NIER), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and in-kind support from Japan (JARI, NIES), Mongolia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam (IMHEN, MONRE) which will allow the implementation of 8 projects. Focusing mainly on research studies and capacity building, these projects include work related to the effects of atmospheric deposition on ecosystems, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Low-Cost Sensors (LCS), Particulate Matter source apportionment in major cities, training on monitoring, emission inventory and research fellowship program.

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The call for EANET Projects’ proposals for 2024 is open, find out more on the Call for Proposals page.

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Ways forward

In addition to these key decisions, the IG24 also approved several important documents, including the Work Program and Budget of the EANET in 2023, and the organization of key meetings in 2023 such as the Working Group Meeting in 2023 (WG2023), the 23rd Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC23) and the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the EANET (IG25).

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Read the Report of IG24, and discover the hybrid meeting’s pictures on Flickr.

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Photos credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia – from data to policy

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

29 June 2022 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 “The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia – from data to policy” was organized virtually on Monday, 20 June 2022. It gathered participants from 17 different countries, scientists, and policymakers who discussed the biggest challenges and successes in acid deposition management in East Asia in the last 20 years.

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Opening Session

Dr. Isabelle Louis, Deputy Regional Director of UNEP Asia Pacific office, opened the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 by delivering the opening remarks, followed by welcome remarks from Mr. Kenichiro Fukunaga, Deputy Director General in charge of Administrative Management at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP).

Key messages conveyed in the remarks celebrated the imminent release of the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4) and the opportunities ahead for the EANET, in line with the expansion of its scope to air pollution, including the launch of the EANET Project Fund.

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General Lecture – Key Findings from the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4)

Since 2006, the EANET has been developing Periodic Reports on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSADs), published every five years, and aiming at providing high-quality data to be used for research, formulation of policies, and measures to reduce the impacts of acid deposition and related air pollutants on the environment. In 2022, the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4), will be released.

Prof. Meng Fan, Former Chairperson of the PRSAD4 Drafting Committee and Deputy Director General in charge of the Network Center for EANET, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), presented the General Lecture: Key Findings from the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4). Findings and recommendations from the PRSAD4 highlighted the improvement of sulfur dioxide-related air pollution mostly in North-East Asia, while nitrogen deposition, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and ozone-related pollution were detected at a high level in the EANET region. The importance to continue deploying more monitoring sites was expressed.

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Panel Discussion – From data to policy, good practices for evidence-based and data-driven policies in East Asia

The Panel Discussion gathered renowned scientists and key policymakers from the EANET Participating Countries. Discussions focused on the importance of regional cooperation and multilateralism to address global environmental problems including acid deposition and air pollution. Findings from the PRSAD4 were also discussed, in the specific context of Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Most panelists highlighted the incredible capacity-building efforts led by the EANET in the past twenty years, on emission inventories, acid deposition regulations, and monitoring support which have indirectly contributed to the development of regional policies. Finally, the panel also shared thoughts on the role EANET may play by helping fill the gap of the right to information on air pollution, as the right to a clean environment and clean air was recently included as a human right by the United Nations.

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Useful Resources

Read a more detailed summary of the Workshop’s content in the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 Event Report.

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View all Workshop’s recordings on the Secretariat for the EANET’s YouTube channel and the Workshop’s photos on Flickr.

 

 

 

 

 

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

27 July 2022 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners online on 6 July 2022. It gathered scientists and researchers, government officers, technicians including Quality Assurance/Quality Control managers, and representatives of international organizations who discussed how to improve the EANET monitoring system. 180 participants from 17 different countries and regions joined the Workshop.

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Opening Session

Moderated by Ms. Yao Dong, Assistant Deputy Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the Network Center (NC) for the EANET, the Workshop started with Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of ACAP in charge of the NC for the EANET and followed by Mr. Toshiyuki Yamasaki, Director of the International Cooperation Office, Environmental Management Bureau, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama and Mr. Toshiyuki Yamasaki delivered the opening remarks.

Remarks emphasized the introduction of new monitoring substances such as (but not only) ammonia, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds, following the expansion of the scope of the EANET as decided by the IG23, and the need to adapt EANET’s monitoring system accordingly. The new EANET Project Fund mechanism, allowing the EANET and other organizations to collaborate on acid deposition and air-quality related projects, was also introduced.

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Lectures and panel discussion

Among its key activities, the EANET is currently monitoring atmospheric substances at 64 monitoring sites in the EANET Participating Countries. The monitoring focuses on five items – wet deposition, dry deposition (air concentration), soil and vegetation, inland aquatic environment, and catchment-scale monitoring.

The Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners was funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and implemented by the Network Center for the EANET. Its goal was to share a wide range of national and international experiences in the field of atmospheric monitoring while discussing the current development and future challenge of monitoring systems and related methodologies in the EANET region.

Panelists during the discussion sessions.

The first session introduced the EANET monitoring activities and was followed by case studies from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China. In addition, specific monitoring methodologies including QA/QC activities were also introduced.

Dr. Meng Fan delivered the closing remarks.

In the second session, a panel discussion, followed by an open discussion, took place to exchange ideas on specific country challenges and discuss how to link EANET’s work with urban monitoring. Members of the EANET Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and from other organizations, such as Clean Air Asia, joined the discussion.

Closing remarks were provided by Dr. Fan Meng, Deputy Director General of ACAP in charge of the NC for the EANET, who summarized the highlights of the Workshop and thanked all speakers and participants for their active contribution. Among the key outcomes of the Workshop, Dr. Meng emphasized the question of linking EANET’s work with city-level monitoring and the challenge to measure volatile organic compounds and secondary pollutants.

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Useful Resources
  • View the full recording of the Workshop on the EANET Secretariat’s Youtube channel
  • Download the Workshop’s Program
  • View the Workshop’s photos on Flickr
  • Download the Workshop’s presentations:

–Development and role of monitoring system in EANET and the case study of Japan

–Latest National and Local/City Monitoring System in the Republic of Korea

–Study on the Co-control of PM2.5 and Ozone Pollution in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Surrounding Region of China

–Monitoring methodologies and QA/QC activities in the EANET

-Introduction to EANET Project Fund and Project Activities 2022-2023

  • Find out more on the topic of the nitrogen cycle, touched upon during the panel discussion, by reading Prof. Akimoto’s et al. related research papers:

–Review of Comprehensive Measurements of Speciated NOy and its Chemistry: Need for Quantifying the Role of Heterogeneous Processes of HNO3 and HONO (2020)

–Rethinking of the adverse effects of NOx-control on the reduction of methane and tropospheric ozone – Challenges toward a denitrified society (2022)

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

EANET Seminar on Expanding Monitoring Systems using LCS

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

23 August 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Seminar on Expanding Monitoring Systems using Low-Cost Sensor (LCS) online on 21 July 2022. It gathered representatives, experts, and practitioners of air quality monitoring from the EANET Participating Countries, and other participants from international organizations, academia, and monitoring-related service providers. 127 participants joined the Seminar.

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Opening Session

The Seminar started with the Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the NC for the EANET, and by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action Subprogramme, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Remarks were followed by an Introductory Presentation by Mr. Taku Ohmura from the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan (OECC) on the Overview of issues and opportunities of using LCS for air quality administrations and surveys.

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Understanding Challenges and Opportunities of LCS

Key presentations by Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, a Senior Instructor of the Faculty of Public Health, at Thammasat University, Thailand, and by Dr. Alison Simcox from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), delved into the limitations and opportunities of Low-cost sensor technology (LCS) for measuring air quality in the contexts of Thailand and of the United States.

Dr. Keiichi SATO, Head of the Atmospheric Research Department at ACAP, in charge of the NC for the EANET, then introduced the results of a survey on a Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN) and related technical studies in five EANET countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

His presentation was followed by discussions and presentations by Ms. Karma Yangzom, a Principal Environment Specialist from the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on ADB’s experience with LCS as part of the Technical Assistance (TA) 9608 on “Strengthening Knowledge and Actions for Air Quality Improvement”, and by Ms. Maria-Katharina Patdu’s presentation, an Associate Programme Officer, from the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP), at UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, on air quality data challenges and opportunities in developing Asia.

While the lack of precision of LCS and the variety of qualities and standards of sensors, may lead to data misinterpretation and presentation issues, keynote speakers and panelists mentioned that the cost-efficiency of LCS and the wide use of these air quality sensors by “citizen-scientists” educate the public and inspire behavioral changes. In addition, the effective utilization of regular monitoring data for the quality control of LCS, the importance of consistent city, regional, and country-level monitoring, and the continued cooperation with other networks and international organizations, were also key points presented to mitigate the limitations of LCS.

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Download the Workshop’s Presentations

–Issues of LCS and Efforts Against the Issues: Thailand’s Experiences (presented by Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana)

–US-EPA’s efforts on wise use of LCS (presented by Dr. Alison Simcox)

–Results of the survey on HAQMN and technical studies in some EANET Participating Countries (presented by Dr. Keiichi Sato)

–Experience in using Low-Cost Sensors under ADB TA 9608 (presented by Ms. Karma Yangzom)

–Air quality data challenges and opportunities in developing Asia (presented by Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu)

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For further inquiries, contact the Network Center for the EANET.

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

The EANET launches its Project Fund and Project Guideline

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

21 April 2022 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) launched the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline, a new mechanism to encourage cooperation to fight the adverse effects of acid deposition and related pollutants on ecosystems and human health.

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The EANET Project Fund

Almost one-third of the world’s population lives in the East Asian region. Due to rapid economic growth and industrialization, many countries in this region are facing a serious threat from acid deposition and related pollutants. Impacts of acid deposition affect aquatic environments, forests, soils; including human health when airborne particles are inhaled. Today almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the World Health Organization’s air quality limits.

The EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline, approved by the IG23 in 2021, is a new financial mechanism allowing EANET to build co-financed EANET Projects with partners in the region and beyond. Co-financing and contributing to the Project Fund will allow supporting effective action in East Asia and fund projects to help countries fight acid deposition’s effects.

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The EANET Projects

Participating Countries and partner organizations, not members of EANET, now have the possibility to cooperate in a strong regional platform with extensive experience and knowledge, as part of the EANET Projects.

The EANET Projects are a set of projects defined by the Medium Term Plan (MTP) for the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) (2021-2025) to conduct specific non-core activities to achieve EANET objectives, using the EANET Project Fund, in accordance with the MTP and other EANET guiding documents.

EANET was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative to create a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, provide useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promote cooperation among countries. EANET Projects, in line with these objectives, will mainly focus on the monitoring of acid deposition and control of data, research, capacity building, and awareness-raising activities.

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Find out more on the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline, how to contribute to the EANET Fund, and submit a project proposal on the dedicated webpage or contact the Secretariat or the Network Center for additional information.

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Photo credits: Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi, Thailand by Erik Karits (2022), free of copyright license.

The 20th Anniversary of the EANET

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

9 December 2021 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET 20th Anniversary celebration was organized online, alongside the Science & Policy Dialogue, on Friday 26th of November 2021, gathering over one hundred participants from 30 countries, to discuss better air quality for all.

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The EANET’s 20th Anniversary Opening Ceremony

Established in 2001 as an intergovernmental network to create a common understanding on the status of acid deposition in East Asia, the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) celebrated in 2021 its twenty years of successful inter-regional cooperation and activities.

The EANET’s 20th Anniversary celebration was hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and H.E. Mr. Yutaka Shoda, the Vice-Minister from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, opened the celebrations by delivering the Opening Remarks.

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Dr. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director and Representative, UN Environment Programme for Asia and the Pacific shared the event’s Welcome Remarks, followed by Congratulatory Remarks from the EANET National Focal Points from Malaysia, Thailand, and China. These were shared by Mr. Jamalulail bin Abu Bakar, Undersecretary, Environmental Management Division, Ministry of Environment and Water, Malaysia; Ms. Siwaporn Rungsiyanon, Director of the Transboundary Air Pollution Subdivision, Air Quality and Noise Management Division, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand and by Mr. Zhou Jun, Director, Division of Asian, African and Latin American Affairs, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China.

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The Launch of the Summary of the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET

To close the celebrations, Mr. Mohan Kumar Sammathuria, Principal Assistant Director of the Atmospheric Sciences, and Cloud Seeding Division, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Ministry of Environment and Water, Malaysia, and the Chairperson of the EANET Scientific Advisory Committee for 2021-2023, presented the newly launched publication “Summary of the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET“.

The Summary of the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET has been prepared based on the data accumulated in the past twenty years of activity of the EANET. It aims at providing a common understanding of the status of acid deposition in East Asia in an easily understandable manner. In addition, it may serve as a guidance document for policymakers, students, civil society, and various organizations that may become EANET partners soon.

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Useful Resources

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.